Fixture Gather Round - SA announced as host for next 3 years 2024-2026

[Festerz]

16.04.23

GATHER ROUND SOUTH AUSTRALIA
AFL LOCKS IN SA FOR NEXT THREE SEASONS

The AFL in partnership with the SA Government is pleased to announce ‘Gather Round…. A Festival of Footy’ will be hosted in South Australia for the next three seasons.

The inaugural ‘Gather Round’ has been an overwhelming success, with all nine games sold out, more than 220,000 fans attending matches across the Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval and Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills and tens of thousands of fans attending the footy festival on the banks of Torrens.

More than 60,000 fans purchased tickets from interstate.

Across 2024, 2025 and 2026, Gather Round …. A festival of footy will be hosted exclusively in South Australia, with Adelaide Oval to be the central venue, with the intent from both the AFL and the SA Government to take regional matches in 2024 to the Barossa / McClaren Vale region.

As part of the three-year term, both the AFL and SA Government have also committed to establishing a community football legacy fund, that will benefit local footy clubs in the state beyond the weekend of matches.

The AFL will lock in the fixture dates of the round in the coming weeks to give fans as much lead time as possible to book travel and accommodation.

Ticketing information will be release later in the year.

“South Australia really turned it on. Gather Round and all the activity across the state, the nine matches, the footy festival and the community football engagement has been some of the best days and events the AFL has ever delivered,” AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan said.

“It has been a success because everyone in football got behind the idea, clubs, players, corporate partners and most importantly our fans, to deliver an extraordinary few days,

“While the concept has real momentum, and we plan on taking it to other states around the country, we also feel in order for it to be as successful in the other states we need to continue to build out the concept in South Australia,

“The reality is we only had a few months to pull this together, and we hope by locking it in now we are giving everyone a longer runway to put together a bigger and even better event, and our fans certainty around booking travel and accommodation.

“The match at Mount Barker was a special afternoon on Saturday and an important part of recommitting to South Australia was to establish the community legacy fund, ensuring local footy clubs’ benefit from bringing the Gather Round to town.”

During the round the AFL has facilitated dozens of community club and school visits, held seminars for community club volunteers and delivered more than 10,000 footballs to regional community clubs.

Details on the Community legacy fund will be communicated at a later date.

“On behalf of the AFL I want to thank to Premier Malinauskas and his team in the SA Government who in partnership, delivered an unbelievable few days for footy and the state of South Australia.”

The AFL will also work with the AFLPA on the commitments to the players.

“The players have been strong partners in the Gather Round concept and have embraced wholeheartedly the round. We will now work with the AFLPA on the commitments to the players in the coming years.”

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said “The inaugural Gather Round has been a stunning success, in no small part thanks to the willingness of South Australians, and our interstate visitors, to show up.
“We know that this has delivered huge benefits for our state, and that is why I’m so pleased to see it return for the next three years.”

“With more time to plan, we know we can make Gather Round even bigger and better than what it has already become.”

“I want to thank Gillon McLachlan, the AFL, wider footballing community, public servants, councils and others who’ve all worked so hard to deliver such an amazing event in just a few months.”

“But most of all, I want to thank each and every person who showed up.”

“This agreement is because of you.”

-ends-

 

[Outtatym]

Watching on TV the atmosphere at the games not featuring an SA club seems dull and lifeless. Great if you like that "watching a suburban footy match on TV feel".

For all the stuff about "great crowds" is there a single match that wouldn't have got a bigger crowd if played in their home state?

Agreed.
Just feels like a media beat up so they can get on the piss for a week while 'working'

 

[1970crow]

Melbourne is full of interstate travellers flying/driving in every weekend. Picking up two sometimes three games a weekend. It’s not ****ing new.

Has it occurred to you that it's not just about footy games and travelling supporters? The SA Govt funds upgrades and underwrites non-footy experiences for gather round. Streets are closed, the entire town focuses on footy. As you, yourself, confidently state, 'it happens every week in Melbourne'. The reason it exists is because it's not normal, it's special. Regardless of where it is, even if in Melbourne, the reason it exists is because it's not normal.

 

[Nelso]

Has it occurred to you that it's not just about footy games and travelling supporters? The SA Govt funds upgrades and underwrites non-footy experiences for gather round. Streets are closed, the entire town focuses on footy. As you, yourself, confidently state, 'it happens every week in Melbourne'. The reason it exists is because it's not normal, it's special. Regardless of where it is, even if in Melbourne, the reason it exists is because it's not normal.

You have to laugh at these people commenting about Gather Round without ever attending once to see what it is really all about.

 

[1970crow]

You have to laugh at these people commenting about Gather Round without ever attending once to see what it is really all about.

In a climate where we're losing festivals, surely it'd only be SA taxpayers complaining about the state government ongoing investment into this event. Like the currently most popular pub, i don't doubt that there's a chance that in 5 years it's stale and becomes a burden. But right now it's awesome, we haven't lived in Adelaide since 98, but we're down here in SE SA loving every minute that's televised.

No doubt it's fair that there's a bidding process, but reality is that only SA & VIC will generate enough neutrals or inherent non-state side supporters to help fill the grounds. I get that Tassie warrants something to energise their inclusion, but you're not getting close to total crowd numbers. It seems a bit contradictory, but I reckon the only state that could match SA currently is Victoria. it's central for travel and there's shit trucks of supporters to fill grounds. I'm not convinced there can't be 2.

 

[Ricmel]

You have to laugh at these people commenting about Gather Round without ever attending once to see what it is really all about.

Personally love the idea of gather round and Adleaide is probably the only and best place to have it. But not sure it will survive putting the game's premier competition on a school boy size ground. The games at Norwood oval have a VFL/Amateur feel to them and the game is obviously compromised.

If Norwood Oval is the only option and South Australians love having gather round an the state government is all over it - put some improvements into the oval.

 

[1970crow]

Personally love the idea of gather round and Adleaide is probably the only and best place to have it. But not sure it will survive putting the game's premier competition on a school boy size ground. The games at Norwood oval have a VFL/Amateur feel to them and the game is obviously compromised.

If Norwood Oval is the only option and South Australians love having gather round an the state government is all over it - put some improvements into the oval.

Norwood is landlocked, not sure there's any available development improvements. What I will say is that suburban ovals seem to make football look amateur, even when it's fully professional. I think higher camera angles are what makes the product look better.

 

[JimmyBC]

The brick wall side of the ground is embarrassing there's more space in a phone box, time for Norwood to go from Gather Round they've had their turn enough's enough.

 

[ibd77]

The brick wall side of the ground is embarrassing there's more space in a phone box, time for Norwood to go from Gather Round they've had their turn enough's enough.

It won't because it's not what happens in the ground, it's what happens outside the ground to elevate the experience.

Karen Rolton Oval could be a good candidate for spectator upgrades and it might help liven up the western side of the CBD.

 

[Polly]

How about 5 gather rounds a season. Tie in the themed rounds for example:
Heritage Gather Round - Queensland
Anzac Gather Round - SA
Rivalry Gather Round- WA
Indigenous Gather Round - NSW
5th round in Tassie.

 

[JimmyBC]

It won't because it's not what happens in the ground, it's what happens outside the ground to elevate the experience.

Karen Rolton Oval could be a good candidate for spectator upgrades and it might help liven up the western side of the CBD.

We are talking The Parade & a Food 'n Wine day it's hardly the zenith of human experience they've had their go well and truly.

 

[Billy ray]

Make adelaide and port play at norwood

 

[ibd77]

No footy in Melbourne makes the Vic's go.

 

[The 747]

How about 5 gather rounds a season. Tie in the themed rounds for example:
Heritage Gather Round - Queensland
Anzac Gather Round - SA
Rivalry Gather Round- WA
Indigenous Gather Round - NSW
5th round in Tassie.

Don't mind this idea, sorts out the fixture to some extent. AFL will never give up four rounds of Melbourne crowds though.

 

[Jugada]

I'm sure it's great for all the people in Adelaide but from an outside perspective it's probably the least interesting round of footy for me. Small neutral venues not the best atmosphere for viewing either

 

[Drummond]

I'm sure it's great for all the people in Adelaide but from an outside perspective it's probably the least interesting round of footy for me. Small neutral venues not the best atmosphere for viewing either

Come over then, it’s incredible being here.

I like having different venues, mixes it up a bit.

 

[Jibroni]

Went to the Barossa today, while its a nice venue I dont get the investment considering it will only be used by an ametuer team moving forward.

The really should have spent the $$$ on upgrading Glenelg, Noarlunga or Elizabeth Ovals and play matches there; all better for watching football than Norwood.

 

[Jibroni]

I'm sure it's great for all the people in Adelaide but from an outside perspective it's probably the least interesting round of footy for me. Small neutral venues not the best atmosphere for viewing either

The Western Australians I met today at Lyndoch would disagree with you.

 

[Cuzz09]

I reckon that if Gather Round continues in SA then the newly renovated (to be completed late 2026?)Thebarton Oval will probably get a run

 

[Jugada]

Come over then, it’s incredible being here.

I like having different venues, mixes it up a bit.

I have no interest in travelling for live footy matches. Im just saying from an outside TV perspective it is very average

 

[Jugada]

The Western Australians I met today at Lyndoch would disagree with you.

Cool. Like I said im sure its a fun time if you are there but for the large majority watching the footy on TV its kind of shit

 

[Jibroni]

Watching on TV the atmosphere at the games not featuring an SA club seems dull and lifeless. Great if you like that "watching a suburban footy match on TV feel".

For all the stuff about "great crowds" is there a single match that wouldn't have got a bigger crowd if played in their home state?

Carlton V West Coast
Dees v Bombers would have got less at the G (on current form)
Sydney v Pies (possibly less in Sydney)

 

[JimmyBC]

Went to the Barossa today, while its a nice venue I dont get the investment considering it will only be used by an ametuer team moving forward.

The really should have spent the $$$ on upgrading Glenelg, Noarlunga or Elizabeth Ovals and play matches there; all better for watching football than Norwood.

Glenelg is another small field not much you can do, Noarlunga or car toot park has issues & Elizabeth is about as desirable a location as Kabul.

 

[bomberclifford]

Alberton oval and the Crows newly developed Thebarton oval will be ideal options in the future.

The new facility at Lyndoch/Barossa has been built with the future in mind and is not just for football. Doing something similar near McLaren Vale would be great. Noarlunga is just not close enough to work.

Norwood oval is the fly in the ointment at this stage, it's an old stadium with very hard restrictions around it so no option to develop any further.


Regardless, I can see the round continuing here beyond the next season.

 

[Nelso]

Richmond Oval is probably the best option as it is close to the city and a good sized ground.

The trouble is that there nothing around it to entice people to hang around there before and after the game.

 

[JimmyBC]

I'd vote Prospect they've done upgrades recently it's close to the city, they could block off the
cafe/shopping/restaurant strip on Prospect Rd to traffic and run 5 minute little shuttle buses to the ground.
Good size playing field and listed as 20k capacity.